From left to right, Congressman Chris Gibson, Gillibrand staffer Kathryn Tanner, State Senator Roy McDonald, Assembly member Didi Barrett and Phil Giltner, speak at a discussion held with Hudson area farmers at Columbia-Greene Community College, Monday Aug. 20, 2012 in Hudson, N.Y. (Dan Little/Special to the Times Union) less

From left to right, Congressman Chris Gibson, Gillibrand staffer Kathryn Tanner, State Senator Roy McDonald, Assembly member Didi Barrett and Phil Giltner, speak at a discussion held with Hudson area farmers at ... more

Photo: Dan Little

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Hudson area farmers meet at Columbia Greene Community College for a discussion with Congressman Chris Gibson and local politicians, Monday Aug. 20, 2012 in Hudson, N.Y. (Dan Little/Special to the Times Union)

Hudson area farmers meet at Columbia Greene Community College for a discussion with Congressman Chris Gibson and local politicians, Monday Aug. 20, 2012 in Hudson, N.Y. (Dan Little/Special to the Times Union)

Photo: Dan Little

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Hudson area farmers meet at Columbia Greene Community College for a discussion with Congressman Chris Gibson and local politicians, Monday Aug. 20, 2012 in Hudson, N.Y. (Dan Little/Special to the Times Union)

Hudson area farmers meet at Columbia Greene Community College for a discussion with Congressman Chris Gibson and local politicians, Monday Aug. 20, 2012 in Hudson, N.Y. (Dan Little/Special to the Times Union)

Photo: Dan Little

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Local Hudson area farmers meet at Columbia Greene Community College for a discussion with Congressman Chris Gibson and local politicians, Monday Aug. 20, 2012 in Hudson, N.Y. (Dan Little/Special to the Times Union) less

Local Hudson area farmers meet at Columbia Greene Community College for a discussion with Congressman Chris Gibson and local politicians, Monday Aug. 20, 2012 in Hudson, N.Y. (Dan Little/Special to the Times ... more

Photo: Dan Little

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Local Hudson area farmers meet at Columbia Greene Community College for a discussion with Congressman Chris Gibson and local politicians, Monday Aug. 20, 2012 in Hudson, N.Y. (Dan Little/Special to the Times Union) less

Local Hudson area farmers meet at Columbia Greene Community College for a discussion with Congressman Chris Gibson and local politicians, Monday Aug. 20, 2012 in Hudson, N.Y. (Dan Little/Special to the Times ... more

Photo: Dan Little

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Farms looking for bit of help

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HUDSON — Farmers nationwide have been frustrated by Congress' inability to pass the multibillion dollar farm bill, which funds a cornucopia of assistance programs and is set to expire in September.

The measure, which will cost at least $950 billion over 10 years, was passed by the Democratic-controlled Senate earlier this year, but it stalled in the Republican-led House. Then, members went home for August recess without resolving the measure.

According to Kelly Young of the state Farm Bureau, the Senate version would cost $969 billion over 10 years, while the House version would cost $957.7 billion.

While the massive farm bill has something for everyone, those in attendance Monday were interested in portions that could help fledgling, small farmers.

That's because many of the participants in Monday's event are involved in the National Young Farmers' Coalition, representing a new generation of growers.

A lot of the 20-something farmers at Monday's forum could have passed for Brooklyn hipsters, except for the calluses on their hands, their sunburns, and the mud on their Timberlands and jeans.

There were no John Deere baseball caps in evidence here, and in the parking lot there were as many Hondas and Subarus as pickup trucks.

That is increasingly the face of farming in the Hudson Valley, where there are numerous small specialty farms growing organic foods or items that are sold in New York City restaurants and farmers markets.

The young agriculturalists who work these plots didn't necessarily grow up in farm country.

But their numbers are growing as more people seek fresh, healthy food that is grown close to home.

Some see it as a social calling — "We have the opportunity to reform the way we eat," said Willow Fitzgerald, 20, who works on Shute's Hearty Roots Farm.

For these young farmers, farm bill programs, such as the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, which helps train novice farmers, and open space grants to help them buy land, are of paramount importance.

Some of the farmers said they realized they were competing with large agribusiness operations for scarce federal dollars.

And in the Legislature, McDonald spoke of the eternal fight to support upstate farm programs, in a state where 75 percent of the population is concentrated in the south, below Poughkeepsie.

"We talk about it as jobs. Economic development," he said of agriculture. "It's not just a hobby."

Some of the concerns were universal, regardless of whether the farmers were young or old or whether their spreads were large or small.

Nestor Tello, a Colombian immigrant who went from being a farm hand to running his own 24-acre vegetable and poultry operation in Coxsackie, Greene County, said tightened restrictions on visas has made it harder to get workers, who usually come from Mexico or Guatemala for the harvest season. He has two helpers but said he could use five.

"Every year it's more difficult," he said.

And Fitzgerald, who said she's lucky to still be on her parent's policy, said farmers and workers are always struggling to get affordable health insurance.

Then there are those New York property taxes, which are a burden despite the agricultural exemptions.